7 March 2006

Friday’s historic ruling by Judge Jajbhay in favour of residents who now can no longer be thrown out into the streets without alternative accommodation, needs to be publicised widely. At least it was on the front page of one newspaper yesterday. See link.
The way activists can conscientise the public is well illustrates by the tireless work of SSN’s Lucky Lukhele. He hardly misses an opportunity to put his advocacy in front of the public in any medium, whether print or electronic. See his linked letter to Sunday’s City Press.
The result is not immediate or automatic. It just becomes a lot more likely that mainstream articles, like that of the Star’s contributing editor, Nicole Fritz, will get space. See link.
There are many other matters that will only be mentioned here today in brief. For example, there will be pickets against Swaziland today. And COSATU has called for the two South African lawyers hired by the Swazi prosecution authority (Els and Viviers) to refuse to prosecute the PUDEMO detainees and to turn back. There is a new Swaziland Solidarity Network site at http://swazisolidaritysa.wikispaces.com/ where all these Swazi-related things will start to appear. Contact ssnnetwork@gmail.com with your Swazi solidarity information for them to pass on.
There will be a Zimbabwe site of this nature very soon. There is just too much material to be going out from one keyboard. A network of collaborative web sites is needed.
More brief news: The Zuma rape trial is on. Transnet is trying to double-cross SATAWU and the other transport unions. The SACP congratulates the ANC on the election win, and rightly congratulates itself and COSATU for making the ANC win possible. COSATU congratulates the makers of the film “Tsotsi” for winning an “Oscar” in the USA as a “foreign” film.
Finally, a notice from Cde Mazibuko Jara announcing a National Workshop of the ALARM Coalition, 24-26 April, in Johannesburg. See link.
The struggle continues.
Links:Illegal to evict Joburg squatters — judge, Benjamin, B Day (458 words)Unban political parties call is overdue, Lukhele, City Press (159 words)Swazi democracy hangs in precarious balance, Fritz, Star (692 words)ALARM National Workshop Jhb 24-26 April, Invite, Jara (1169 words)